Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It was like being called into the principal's office after corporal punishment was banned.

Tiger Woods was tongue-lashed instead.

At a time when critics have lined up to savage Woods with blunt-force trauma, Augusta National chairman Billy Payne on Wednesday gave Woods perhaps the sternest lecture to date about how he let down all of golf with his reckless actions over the past few years.

It was akin to being beaten to death with a rubber hose. Where others used meat cleavers, Payne produced a stiletto blade at his annual meeting with reporters and carved off small pieces of the world No. 1 and four-time Masters champion.

It was as unprecedented as it was unbelievable -- Payne, a man charged with running one of the most powerful organizations in golf and the former chief of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, dressed Woods down in articulate and unmistakable fashion, but without raising his voice or pounding a fist on the table.

The message was emphatic nonetheless. It left some in the room, even a few jaded scribes who had completely blowtorched Woods for the past five months, with a lump in their throats.

Taking a detour from his presentation about the club's various improvements and electronic media endeavors, Payne launched into a scripted and passionate discourse on the responsibilities that come with stardom. For those who thought Augusta National's membership was full of stuffed shirts and corporate types without a moral conscience, you should have been in the room when Payne started talking.

Trust me when I tell you that some in the room wanted to stand up and yell, Amen. And we weren't talking about that famous stretch of holes down in the corner of the course.

Said Payne:

"Finally, we are not unaware of the significance of this week to a very special player, Tiger Woods. A man who in a brief 13 years clearly and emphatically proclaimed and proved his game to be worthy of the likes of Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. As he ascended in our rankings of the world's great golfers, he became an example to our kids that success is directly attributable to hard work and effort.

"But as he now says himself, he forgot in the process to remember that with fame and fortune comes responsibility, not invisibility. It is not simply the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here; it is the fact that he disappointed all of us, and more importantly, our kids and our grandkids. Our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children.

"Is there a way forward? I hope yes. I think yes. But certainly his future will never again be measured only by his performance against par; but measured by the sincerity of his efforts to change. I hope he now realizes that every kid he passes on the course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile.

"I hope he can come to understand that life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who bring joy to the lives of other people. We at Augusta hope and pray that our great champion will begin his new life here tomorrow in a positive, hopeful and constructive manner, but this time, with a significant difference from the past. This year, it will not be just for him, but for all of us, who believe in second chances."

Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

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Since: Feb 25, 2010

Posted on: April 9, 2010 12:54 pm

Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

SmElling must now write articles about something other than Tiger since he has bashed him so much. Who wants to listen to him now? He is currently -4 in the masters. I'm quite certain your ratings have gone down due to biased journalism.

Since: Aug 30, 2007

Posted on: April 9, 2010 8:56 am

Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

Oh the joy I feel in my heart. Steve Elling, senior golf sports writer for CBS, has incessantly written Tigercentric article after article, hoping and praying for a meltdown of epic proportions today from Tiger. Elling has written more about Tigers personal life over the past 6months than TMZ, The National Enquirer, and UsWeekly combined. Scathing, pointed articles all written from our perspective, the outside. He has dreamed up scenario after scenario about Woods' return, in none was this return even a possibility. I was always a lukewarm fan of Tiger, but I have become more of a fan because of Elling. Not because I approve of what he did, but more because he hasn't ever let any part of the media in, because he tells people like Elling to suck it, with a cold shoulder and a blatant dis-acknowledgement of the bottom feeders of the media's existence. To that I say, bravo. And today, when Tiger strolled up to the first tee with a warm welcome (to the Masters for christ sake, where he a four time champion, not a marriage values rally, a promise keepers meeting, or to give a speech on the value of fidelity mind you), striped it down the middle, and proceeded to have the best opening round at the Masters he has produced, i only strengthened his defiance towards all those who desperately wanted him to fail in his profession like he did with his marital vows. To put it in Tigerspeak, he gave Elling and the rest of the media a money shot to the eye, and then asked if they wanted a bukake party afterward. If he puts on the green jacket on Sunday, we might see Ellings obituary on Monday. Reputation:97Level:SuperstarSince:Aug 30, 2007In other news, CBS sports hack Steve Elling was arrested outside of the Woods home in West Palm, FL. Elling was found rummaging through the Woods' garbage with multiple discarded pairs of underwear stuffed into his pockets believed to be worn by Tiger. Elling was visibly upset and disheveled while being led to the police cruiser. Officers stated that Elling was muttering the question "Why not me too Tiger? Always a bridesmaid." repetitively during questioning. Elling was later released and transferred to a local psychiatric hospital and placed on a 72 hr hold and suicide watch.

Since: Dec 12, 2009

Posted on: April 8, 2010 8:22 pm

Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

Mr. Payne had every right to say what he did. Everything he said is true. What Tiger did is diespicable. He had unprotected sex with numerous women of questionable character while his wife was pregnant - TWICE. Have you heard of STD that could have infected not only her, but her and his unborn children. This is a man who cares about children? lol! I understand some men want to believe Elin hit him with a golf club. Police say it didn't happen. Good sense has to agree since he apparently had no broken bones. Surely the neighbors would have mentioned that little juicy morsel. His neighbor is a doctor, for goodness sake! Why do you want it so much to be so. Are you just simply looking for an excuse for cheating men?

Since: Jun 27, 2009

Posted on: April 8, 2010 5:30 pm

Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

He is an Asian man ,and don't you forget it.Does he look black to you?

Since: Jan 29, 2007

Posted on: April 8, 2010 2:25 pm

Just saw something funny

MSN is doing "hole by hole" updates on the adulterous T. Woods. "HOLE BY HOLE...!!!!???" Sounds like the makings of a porno. Where were these updates for Elin when he was banging everyone under the sun.

Since: Sep 7, 2006

Posted on: April 8, 2010 2:11 pm

Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

I agree whole heartedly with you, but it is probably best that Augusta National's ugliest secrets between 1933 - 1990 stay in the closet. Like which side of the civil rights movement did it members and the Club support and how.

Since: Jun 17, 2009

Posted on: April 8, 2010 12:25 pm

Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

This Masters Chairman and every golfer should shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it wasn't for Tiger, their bank accounts would be a quarter of what they are... They really could care less about his infidelity. What did this guy do? Cheated on his spouse; which half the country does on a regular basis... Every one feels bad for his poor wife, but she would be changing diapers of some snobby rich family if it wasn't for Tiger. She would also never even look his way if he wasn't a super star. Feel bad for the people struggling to earn a buck.

These people are so FAKE it's sickening!

Since: Dec 1, 2008

Posted on: April 8, 2010 9:44 am

Masters chairman gives Woods a smackdown

Agreed, you hit the nail right on the head. Payne came across as holier than thou.

Thanks for bringing this to light it really adds some perspective.

People have selective memory loss, Mr. Payne should recall the clubs past transgression, which in my opinion were more heinous.

Since: Jun 9, 2009

Posted on: April 8, 2010 9:35 am

Chairman is Racist, Sexist Bastard with no Morals

I would not believe it if I didn't see and hear it with my own eyes and ears. Did he forget about all the people that have done worst than Tiger like John Daly, Arnold Palmer, etc., etc. These are the same people that didn't allow a grown Black Man or any Woman play because of their Color or Gender. Enough is enough, any of the people that have played a few rounds knows this is BULL, they have Girls riding around serving Beer like little cheap Whores that are used for just about everything you can think of everyday, and they decide it is a problem when a Black Man takes advantage of the same EVIL practices they do.

Think about it a Woman could not play but she could provide service and this Bastard is giving Tiger a reprimand, are you kidding me. Of I forget he did it with Grace and Calmness, what a JOKE! This man is an idiot and should be fired. We accuse Blacks of playing the Race Card, and woman of playing the Gender Card, so what in the world should we call this the Moral Card? The only purpose for this was to make all of the Evil Racist happy, and teach Tiger a lesson. Everyone knows Tiger is not even the 1000th Athlete/Star to cheat on his wife, if anything he has not even come close to the number of women others have had.

What is the most amazing is that Tiger is responsible for passing on Shame to everyone's Kids and Grand children, are you kidding me! Is this the same Country that has Girls Gone Wild and Priest Molesting Kids? He meant to say you are the only N_____ that we let our kids and grandkids like and you let us down. However, they didn't let down generations of Blacks and Women, with their special EVIL past, including Lynching!

This should be a lesson to all, if we accept this kind of crap, we better watch out for what is coming next. I really don't like having to stand up for Tiger Woods, but this has gone to far, and the fact that his Wife has gotten away with serious Life Threatening Domestic Violence is a serious concern, and to think she didn't even get help for her problem, like Tiger did. I guess this is one of the benefits of being a Nanny Blond Bimbo, what an obvious setup.

Of course many of you will say Race Card, or Gender Card, which also amazes me, because when a Non-Minority or Non-Woman Says something about Race, or Gender it is still playing the Race or Gender Card. So basically I guess it should be changed to a Loser Card, because they ALWAYS LOSE regardless of who plays it!